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2010/1 Module Catalogue
 Module Code: EEE3025 Module Title: INTRODUCTION TO NANOTECHNOLOGY
Module Provider: Electronic Engineering Short Name: EE3.NAN
Level: HE3 Module Co-ordinator: CAREY JD Dr (Elec Eng)
Number of credits: 15 Number of ECTS credits: 7.5
 
Module Availability

Autumn Semester

Assessment Pattern

Unit(s) of Assessment
Weighting Towards Module Mark( %)
2 hour unseen examination
80%
Assignment
20%
Qualifying Condition(s) 
A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass this module.

Module Overview
This module is designed to provide the students with an understanding of the fundamentals of nanotechnology.
Prerequisites/Co-requisites

 Level 2 Semiconductors or equivalent

Module Aims
To provide students with:
(i)                  an appreciation of the background and current status of nanotechnology,
(ii)                an understanding of relevant basic scientific principles underpinning nanotechnology, including the importance of quantum effects in matter,
(iii)               an appreciation of some important nanomaterials, their growth and characterisation,
(iv)       an appreciation of relevant tools and processes for measuring and characterising nanosize objects.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module students are expected to be able to:
(i)                  summarise general issues relating to nanotechnology;
(ii)                demonstrate an understanding of relevant theoretical ideas,
(iii)               perform simple quantum mechanical calculations,
(iv)              describe some of the characteristics of selected nanomaterials and
(v)       discuss the operation and use of some common tools of nanotechnology.
Module Content

1. Introduction and basic theory

 

(i)               Origins and nature of nanotechnology.  Nanotechnology in society, current issues.

 

(ii)              Quantum nature of matter. Electron energy levels. Wavefunctions and tunnelling. Solving simple quantum problems.

 

(iii)            Electron field emission and display technology.   

 

 

2. Nanomaterials

 

(i)               Length scales, top-down and bottom-up approaches to nanotechnology.  Common growth methods.

 

(ii)              Properties of selected nanomaterials, including carbon nanotubes, other carbon based materials C60, graphene, and metallic nanoclusters and nanowires.

 

 

3. Scanning Probe Microscopy

 

(i)               Scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy

 

(ii)              Atomic and molecular manipulation – lateral manipulation and 2D quantum corrals, vertical manipulation, 1D quantum structures, tip induced effects, Ullmann process.

 

 

4. Tools of Nanotechnology: Electron and Ion based methods

 

(i)               Electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), image processing and analysis  

 

(ii)              Optical and electron beam lithography 

 

(iii)      Focused Ion beam.

Methods of Teaching/Learning
Lectures: 30 hours lectures in total, 3 hours per week

Private study of specified articles and tutorial sheets

Selected Texts/Journals
1.        The Physics of Low-Dimensional Semiconductors, J Davies, ISBN 052148491X
 
2.        Introduction to Nanoelectronics, V.V. Mitin, V.A. Kochelap and M.A. Stroscio, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 9780521881722. (2008)
 
3.        Nanophysics and nanotechnology by Edward Wolf, An Introduction to Modern Concepts in Nanoscience, 2nd Edition, ISBN 3527406514 (2006)
 

4.     Waser. R. (ed) Nanoelectronics and Information Technology: Advanced Electronic Materials and Novel Devices (Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2003)

Last Updated

12 August 2010